Best of The Gazette, April 15: Labor, vandals and a first for Janesville schools

Edward, whose real name is Jiming Ye, listens to discussion in a calculus class at Craig High School. He is the district's first Chinese student under the new international program.

The Gazette publishes a lot of news in a week. Combine that with all the distractions a weekend brings, and that means there's a good chance you might have missed some important stories. Here's a look at of some of The Gazette's best content from the last week or so:

Work that once was hard to come by now is more available, and construction companies are facing the revival with a shortage of skilled workers. In response, people are flocking to Wisconsin's apprenticeship program, which was launched in 1911 as the first of its kind in the nation. “Contractors are busy and moving forward,” said Kelly Tourdot, vice president of the Wisconsin chapter of Associated Builders & Contractors.

Edward arrived at Craig High School at the beginning of the second semester. His real name is Jiming Ye, and he is the first Chinese student to attend classes in the Janesville School District. Edward said he noticed differences between school in China and the United States on his first day. “I feel like here I have more free time to do what I like,” Edward said. “Students are more serious in China, and students here are more casual.”

Spring has sprung—at least that's what the calendar says. And despite one week of deplorable playing conditions that led to an array of postponements and cancellations, the high school spring sports season is in full bloom. Here's a look at a few area athletes and teams to keep an eye on from Sports reporter John Barry.

After a prolific scoring career at UW-Whitewater in the mid-1990s, 1993 Craig High graduate Eric Burdette will enter the city's Sports Hall of Fame this year. “I just tried to be a decent basketball player,” the modest Burdette said. “I did the best with what I had.”

Jim Tropp has directed the rock opera "Jesus Christ Superstar" multiple times, the last time in 2010. His current show resurrects the 2010 team of Tropp as director, Rich Hoffman as Jesus and Ryan Rammelt as Judas—a combination Tropp loves. “Both of those guys love those roles,” Tropp said.

Headquarters Bar and Restaurant might be brand-new, but its smoker has been going since the day it opened. Its smoked meats are exceptional, restaurant reviewer Bill Livick writes. And its beef brisket, pork shoulder and chicken wings take on a tasty new life when treated with one of the kitchen's four homemade sauces.

New Life Assembly of God's 60-foot cross in Janesville was shot at sometime over the winter, police report. The vandals left eight bullet-sized holes in the structure. The news is head-shaking, Gazette blogger Steve Knox writes.

Every year the Badger Rock Club holds a show in Monroe. The event is dedicated to earth science study for children, adults and families. Ahead of the program, community blogger Glen Loyd shows viewers a selection of the rocks inside Mother Nature's jewel box.